Latest survey revealed that most children and young people in England are satisfied with the care given to them by medical staff and health care providers in hospitals.
England's Care Quality Commission (CQC), an independent regulator of care and social health, conducted its first survey on children and young persons, to find out how the young perceive hospital care.
CQC explains [pdf] further the survey results online in Children and Young People's Survey 2014.
The survey involved 19,000 children and young persons and 137 NHS trusts. Patients who responded to the survey are those who either stayed in the hospitals overnight or were seen for a day. Generally, children with mental health disorders or learning and physical disabilities responded more poorly to the survey than those without did, the survey said.
Almost nine out of ten children and young persons who are eight to 15 years old felt safe in the hospitals for the duration of their stay, while 91 percent of their parents or carers felt the same.
Looking at the treatment of staff to the patients, 80 percent of the children and young persons felt that the staff did everything they could in helping to control their pain.
On educating the patients, the survey found that almost 75 percent of those who have undergone surgery or some other procedure were made aware of what was done to them. They easily understood the procedures taken.
When it came to decision-making, 43 percent of patients between 12 and 15 years old, and over 35 percent of their parents or carers were not involved. 41 percent of parents or carers felt that the staff members were unaware of their children's medical history.
Over four out of 10 children between eight and 11 years old reported not having gone through activities or playing with the staff. 32 percent of their parents or carers in turn reported that staff members were not always available when needed.
Food offered to children between eight and 15 years old pleased 45 percent.
For those with mental health disorders and learning and physical disabilities, a noticeable difference is revealed in responses of parents, carers and children and young people in aspects such as the staff's awareness of the medical histories of patients and their knowledge in caring for the patients' individual needs, and the lack of equipment for adaptations suitable for the children.
Photo: Reading Tom | Flickr
